New Delhi, April 21,(Agencies): Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh Friday said all states must ensure the safety of Kashmiris in different parts of the country, condemning the alleged attack on students from Kashmir in Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh on Wednesday.
The Home Minister said he had heard last night that “in one or two parts of India, people misbehaved with Kashmiri youth”. According to reports, Kashmir students were harassed and beaten in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
“I appeal to Chief Ministers of all states to ensure that such incidents don’t happen, they are equal citizens of India, they have also greatly contributed to national security,” Mr Singh said, adding that he had asked the home secretary to put out an advisory.
“I appeal to all youngsters to treat them as their brothers, they are Indian citizens and members of our family,” Mr Singh added.
Six Kashmiri students at the Mewar University of Chittorgarh were allegedly thrashed by a group of local people on Wednesday, the police said, adding that the trigger was not known.
There are nearly 500 Kashmiri students and 300 from Jammu at Mewar University.
Meanwhile, a lesser known outfit Nav Nirman Sena in BJP ruled Uttar Pradesh has put banners calling for boycott of Kashmiris and asking people from the Valley to leave the state.
Media reports quoting Nav Nirman Sena chief Amit Jani as having said that they have put up these banners and hoardings along the Partapur bypass outside the colleges where Kashmiri students study. The outfit said it is only the first step and it will launch a “halla bol” campaign from April 30 to “banish” the Kashmiris who do not leave the state on their own.